I miss the fall in New England and everything that comes with it. The crisp air. Apple cider donuts. Big, crackly orange maple leaves. You don't get all of these things in San Francisco or Phoenix, both places that I've lived for the past six years. 

But you do get all of these things in Park City, Utah, where I just spent a wonderful long weekend with friends. The weekend was made up of one part exploration and one part relaxation, with plenty of alcohol on the side.

On Friday, our squad hiked the Armstrong Trail. What we thought was a 4-mile trek turned into a 6-mile hike with lots of twists and turns, but with every extra step we took, we were rewarded with breathtaking, breathtaking, views. I mean, it's like Park City knew that I was craving serious fall foliage so it served me up the best, most colorful mix of scenery I've seen in years. White-barked Aspen trees. Dirt paths lined with fiery red leaves. Mountains dappled with sunshine. Dark, tall Evergreens. This hike had everything I'd ever hoped for in a beautiful fall day.

On Saturday, we drove over to the High West Distillery at Blue Sky Ranch in Wanship, Utah. The ranch is a sight to behold, well worth the short 30-minute drive from Park City. We toured the distillery and enjoyed a whiskey tasting on the beautiful outside deck overlooking a peaceful stretch of Utah mountains. I particularly enjoyed the Barreled Boulevardier, which is more of a cocktail whiskey, and the Bourye, their bourbon and rye whiskey mix. If you're ever in the area, I urge you to visit High West, Utah's first legal distillery since 1870.

I know that Park City is a major winter destination for skiing and snowboarding, but if you have a chance to visit this beautiful place in the fall, do! It's a wonderful time of year to be outside and see Utah in all of her glory.